| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 repairs by problem area
Engine (30%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)
Brakes and Traction Control (5%)
Suspension and Steering (26%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (20%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (5%)
Other (5%)
Chart based on 438 repairs.
2008 Mazda Mazda3 engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (3%)
$1000 - $2499 (9%)
$500 - $999 (12%)
$100 - $499 (25%)
< $100 (50%)
Chart based on 117 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 7800 mi US $1550 |
had cat bac exhust and cold air intake install, all Mazda parts and put on at dealer. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. have not had it dino yet but can not get over the POWER. and oil change, tire rotate, gen service |
| 11800 mi | gas cap broke |
| 11300 mi | check eng light came on, it was raining hard, was told that my charcoal canister was bad and needed to be changed, part order going back to shop in a few days to be changed, at no cast Shop replaced charcoal canister, have had no trouble since |
| 32000 mi | Was told that fault was due to the EGR valve. I trust my shop and did not ask it if was replace or what, they told me that they took care of it. I went ahead and had my reg. service done |
| 34300 mi | EGR valve bad. Turned out that last time they had just reset the light. This time shop had one and did repair I waited, replacing the EGR. Took less then 2 hours. |
| 4317 mi | Accelerator problems, accelerator sticking. Electronics replaced under hood. |
| 32000 mi | MIL popped, Random knock sensor, undetermined origin. |
| 61000 mi US $1060 |
Motor mount bolts came loose dropping engine on to pass side CV joint, ripping power steering pump apart, Breaking pass side CV joint. |
| 90000 mi US $20 |
I machined a pcv neck down as to pull a tiny bit more of a vacuum. This will keep my turbo from smoking at idle. Mazda has more complicated fix (search for MTOL 5505) but warranty extended only to 7/70. |
| 135500 mi US $1000 |
VVt actuator, Timing chain, tensioner, cost $1500 |
| 60800 mi US $101 |
Hose from coolant reservoir to cooling system dislodged and came in contact with radiator fan causing slow coolant leak. Hose was replaced today. A helpful police officer zip-tied the hose away from fan & put water in reservoir/radiator. |
| 99000 mi US $1500 |
engine mount |
| 100000 mi US $1000 |
transmission mount Emission control valve was ordered to be replaced but dealer failed to carry out repair (dropped the ball). Engine light has remained off for a week anyway, so why spend another $700? |
| 116000 mi US $575 |
MazdaSpeed cold air intake got a hole in it, $575. The turbo needed to be replaced because of intermittent smoke from the tailpipe during long idles (this problem is well documented among other Speed 3 owners). $3,000. |
| 74200 mi | Turbo replaced. |
| 120000 mi US $400 |
Mass air sensor allegedly caused engine light to come on. |
| 46000 mi US $431 |
1st (wideband) O2 sensor failed, but was masking failure of purge valve and EGR valve. Took dealer several tries to figure out. I paid 02, Mazda N.A. paid purge & EGR, dealer picked up extra labor. Problems likely all linked. |
| 34000 mi | Occasional oily exhaust fixed by replacing turbocharger |
| 114000 mi US $150 |
serpentine belt cracked and needed to be replaced |
| 124000 mi US $360 |
Tensioner and idler pulleys noisy and replaced |
| 145000 mi | Significant smoke in the exhaust, turbo and intake valves likely failing. |
| 15000 mi US $135 |
Thermostat replaced Causing p106 cel |
| 91000 mi | EGR Valve was clogged and was replaced. |
| 190000 mi US $6500 |
Turbo burning oil, need to replace |
| 194000 mi US $8000 |
Turbo and engine issue. Need to replace both. |
| 158000 mi US $130 |
Insulation on engine heat shield caught fire due to the metal on the heat shield wearing through. and hot metal parts coming in direct contact with the insulation. The heat shield was replaced with an upgraded aftermarket version. |
| 66000 mi US $21 |
Evap purge valve stuck open..replaced |
| 9000 mi | Check Engine Light on. ODB-II scan indicated a misfire code P0300. Could not reproduce. Found update to power control module. Re-flashed with lastest updates and road tested. (Noted fuel economy drop after re-flash) |
| 52000 mi US $2000 |
replaced fuel injectors and egr valve |
| 73000 mi US $650 |
Multiple misfire code in cylinder #3. Low compression, resulting in hesitation and knocking. Replaced the plugs and added a chemical to the cylinder to restore compression. |
| 92000 mi US $143 |
Diagnosed burnt valve, low compression. |
| 80700 mi US $10 |
engine mount loose, repaired by tightening it down |
| 4000 mi | Check Engine Light came on, then went off on it's own. Dealer read code: P0300 – Random misfire found. Vehicle is not misfiring, dealer cleared code. |
| 10000 mi | Check Engine Light (CEL). Autozone read code: P0300 – “Random misfire found”. Dealer reports no hard fault in computer. Code cleared, no misfiring. Dealer states could have been caused by lower octane fuel. Only 91 octane ever used in vehicle. |
| 14000 mi | Car misfires in 6th gear at 60+mph during acceleration. Has occurred 3-4 times but unable to duplicate during test drive with dealer technician. No repair attempt made. |
| 19000 mi | Car misfires. Dealer claims engine is very sensitive to carbon buildup which I may have a little bit of. When accelerating from < 3k rpm the turbo is not spooling yet and the carbon buildup is causing the hesitation. |
| 44640 mi | Rear motor mount was broken, the rubber bushing had ripped. They replaced it under warranty. |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 151000 mi US $125 |
Developed a code. Replaced oxygen sensor but code came back. Replaced gas tank to engine gas emission solenoid and problem went away. |
| 87000 mi US $50 |
The car had a problem starting when it wasn't cold out, it would start up but then "choke" and act as if going to die unless gave it a lot of fuel. The problem was the fuel pump. This was replaced. |
| 89600 mi US $50 |
The car was idling poorly especially when cold. Power seemed a little lower, rpms were higher. Intake manifold replaced. |
| 53000 mi US $100 |
Belt tensioner was bad. |
| 70000 mi US $30 |
Serpentine belt tension pulley bearings making noise. Replaced old tension pulley with new one - problem solved. |
| 75000 mi US $33 |
Car was running rough at start up. Cleaned MAF sensor and throttle body. Replaced spark plugs with Bosch Iridium type. Now the car is running very smooth when starting. Quick maintenance seemed to cure the problem. |
| 17360 mi | CEL came on, problem was diagnosed as faulty shutter valve actuator, known issue as per TSB. |
| 47120 mi | Broken passenger side engine mount, replaced under drivetrain warranty. |
| 84940 mi C $200 |
Passenger side engine mount, second time it has been replaced (first was under powertrain warranty) |
| 95480 mi C $500 |
Oxygen sensor replaced, throttle body service/cleaning |
| 133920 mi C $170 |
Alternator and AC belts replaced due to squealing Exhaust heat shield re-attached to car, fasteners had corroded and fallen out |
| 169260 mi C $800 |
Replace exhaust flex pipe |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 89000 mi US $1100 |
Needed all new motor mounts |
| 103000 mi US $400 |
Check engine light. Replaced Oxygen sensor. |
| 91000 mi | Intermittent vibration on steering wheel at highway speeds. Passenger side engine mount replacement |
| 105000 mi US $91 |
P0134 CEL illuminated in the dash indicating oxygen sensor 1 bank 1 was bad. Ordered the 5-wire NTK 24355 sensor off ebay as well as a sensor socket. The job took 30 minutes and no CEL since. |
| 60000 mi US $126 |
#3 engine mount replaced |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 13000 mi | Loose fuel filler cap. |
| 65000 mi US $90 |
Replaced leaking passenger side motor mount. |
| 85000 mi US $22 |
Installed Mazda fix for TSB 01-037/08 which addresses an intermittent staring issue. Car would not start occasionally and I traced it to this bulletin. Kit provides a new magnet switch terminal and short cord set. |
| 59000 mi US $450 |
Radiator leaked and needed to be replaced. Not what you would expect on a car that is barely out of warranty. |
| 63600 mi US $300 |
CEL was triggered by faulty oxygen sensor. There was no change in car drivability, but I had the sensor replaced anyway. All is fixed. |
| 75000 mi US $800 |
Evap pump faulty. Check engine light reporting evap system error. Dealer wanted $800+ to replace fuel system evap pump. |
| 115700 mi US $180 |
They thought a noise was the water pump going out, so they replaced it. |
| 157500 mi US $50 |
O2 Sensor |
| 258000 mi US $225 |
Exhaust leak. New muffler. |
| 262000 mi | Clutch replacement, 262,000 miles |
| 55000 mi US $3500 |
engine replaced - car less than 3 years old |
| 84000 mi US $1000 |
new clutch and flywheel |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 62000 mi US $250 |
Check engine light was on and the engine was overheating. The problem was a faulty thermostat that was stuck closed and won't open. |
| 94400 mi US $100 |
Motor mount which is a common problem that I knew of when I purchase the car |
| 149000 mi | Check light came on. No problem detected and it was reset |
| 30700 mi US $42 |
Engine started overheating. After some tests, decided it was either a clogged radiator (unlikely) or bad thermostat. Replaced thermostat. In the meantime, drove slow and used the heater as radiator. ;-) |
| 56300 mi US $15 |
Check engine light. Code P2404. Replaced fuel cap and all seems to be well. |
| 18600 mi | First Cold weather: No cabin heating. Dealer replaced engine Thermostat, under warranty. Problem fixed. |
| 80000 mi US $750 |
Main bolt securing engine-transmission mount backed out, resulting in the engine nearly falling out and onto the road. Tow was required. Falling engine disconnected from hoses and broke the front axle which required replacement. |
| 123000 mi US $900 |
all coolant hoses replaced as preventive measure |
| 31000 mi | My engine emissions evacuation vacuum pump failed and had to be replaced. |
| 37000 mi | Engine light stayed on. Dealership had to reset the fuses. Engine Evacuation Emissions Pump malfunctioned again. Not sure why, but they had to replace it a 2nd time. |
| 41000 mi | Power steering gauge went out and dealer fixed it under my warranty. Then it malfunctioned again and by then there was a recall and it was completely replaced. So far it's working fine. |
| 4000 mi | Motor Mounts replaced per TSB and 4 Wheel Road Force Balance performed. |
| 33000 mi | Plastic grip part of gas cap broke off of threaded part of gas cap. Dealer gave me a new gas cap under orig warranty. |
| 35000 mi | Felt vibration while driving. Found motor mount rubber compressed. Replaced motor mount rubber. |
| 75000 mi US $250 |
During inspection, tech found water pump pulley not coming in contact with belt correctly. Half side of belt worn. Replaced pulley and belt. |
| 166000 mi US $900 |
Replaced worn serpentine and a/c belts, replaced belt tensioner |
| 175000 mi US $400 |
Serpentine and ac belts worn, replaced belts and belt tensioner |
| 76000 mi | During oil change, dealer noticed seeping oil pan gasket. Car is CPO and gasket was replaced at no charge under CPO extended powertrain warranty. |
| 88200 mi | Valve cover gasket leak identified during routine oil change. Gasket replaced under CPO extended warranty. Loaner provided. |
| 104000 mi | Engine coolant temp sensor failed. Car overheated and lost all coolant. Terminal Engine Failure. |
| 59000 mi | Sticking thermostat replaced |
| 25000 mi | Engine overheating Front motor mount broken |
| 92000 mi US $65 |
Check engine light came on: P0442. Small leak in evap. Did a smoke test & all I needed a new gas cap. Wanted to not get the part but they said I would fail emissions as is & mine is up the next month. Paid the $64 for test & mazda gas cap. |
| 112000 mi US $500 |
Third - 02 Sensor Replacement. |
| 94400 mi | Shaking at highway speeds. Motor Mount #3 fixed. Mechanic noticed oil under car and discovered broken oil pan. Replaced under extended warranty. |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 33000 mi | Leaking oil pan. |
| 106300 mi | Replaced O2 Sensor after diagnosing a CEL for the first emission test. The total expense for the part was $140.00 |
| 140000 mi US $4100 |
torn motor mount was replaced for free |
| 89281 mi US $35 |
Original OEM Mazda gas cap broke. OEM Mazda part purchased from dealer and installed $35.40. |
| 94719 mi US $200 |
Hard starting. No fuel to fuel injectors. Relay for fuel pump replaced. |
| 71080 mi C $224 |
Oil filled engine mount leaked and failed. Replaced engine mount. |
| 16000 mi | Car was overheating. Drove it to repair shop where they diagnosed bad thermostat (they said was unusual for such a new car). Thermostat was replaced, problem fixed. Drove the car from Cleveland to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with absolutely no problems. |
| 14000 mi | While in for wiper recall, mechanic noticed engine mount #3 had failed and it was replaced under existing warranty. |
| 24000 mi | Car started running hot. A/C stopped blowing cold air. The dealer replaced the thermostat and the problems were resolved. |
| 32000 mi | An engine motor mount began to leak fluid. The motor mount was replaced. |
| 44800 mi US $700 |
Upstream oxygen sensor. |
| 24480 mi C $210 |
idler pully bearing shot; replaced idler and belts. |
| 33500 mi | Replaced passenger side motor mount. Replaced passenger side motor mount, under warranty. |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 103400 mi US $110 |
Lower engine to subframe mount had a deteriorated bushing, replaced with an genuine mazda mount |
| 61000 mi US $65 |
Topside motor mount was diagnosed as bad during a state vehicle inspection so replaced it myself. |
| 91000 mi US $700 |
The timing cover was leaking after being diagnosed as seeping 2.5 years earlier - it got removed and fixed. Out of nowhere, the car would not start. It would crank and crank and cough like it wanted to start, but wouldn't. Not a battery issue. But of course, once towed, the car started up perfectly every time, so diagnosis wasn't possible. |
| 26200 mi US $270 |
#3 motor mount bad |
| 75000 mi US $1400 |
engine mount |
| 79000 mi US $690 |
O2 sensor |
| 75000 mi US $1600 |
Engine mount #3 replaced |
| 86000 mi US $1700 |
V-Belt/Alternator Belt required replacement |
| 94000 mi US $40 |
Motor mount, passenger side |
| 38000 mi US $459 |
A/C stopped cooling. Then went on trip when mechanic could not repair same day. Overheated 200 miles into 650 mile trip. Now overheating and no A/C at 37,600 miles, just over warranty. Mechanic replaced thermostat and radiator all set. |
| 68700 mi | Air intake. MAF dirty. Mechanic cleaned for free |
| 74200 mi US $600 |
Leak sensor replaced |
| 55800 mi C $300 |
4 spark plugs were fouled. According to the mechanic, the fitting was loose and he had to tap the holes to get the new spark plugs to fit. |
| 77500 mi C $900 |
Engine mount worn down |
| 85000 mi | Leaking head gasket |
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 22000 mi | Check engine light on. Would not stay off, even after reset by dealer. |
| 34000 mi | Thermostat stuck. Replaced |
See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Hatchbacks.
See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.
